Automatic shade-roller stop



,Dec. 30, 1930. B. w. WHITWORTH- 1,786,512

AUTOMATIC SHADE ROLLER STOP Filed May 28, 1929 Patented Dec. 30, 1930the STATES BEVILL W. WHITWORTH, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA AUTOMATICSHADE-ROLLER STOP Application filed May 28, 1829. Serial No. 866,712.

The invention relates to self stopping attachments for shade rollers andhas for its object to provide an attachment of this character which maybe applied to a spring actuated shade roller of any conventional form,whereby its upward movement will be automatically restrained and broughtto a stop at a predetermined position, thus avoiding the annoyingtendency to slip away from the hand of an operator and fly up so as toinjure the shade and cause the spring to lose its tension.

A further object is to provide an attachment that may be readily appliedby dealers 5 at the time of fitting and hanging the same,

and by manufacturers without modifying a y of the active partsheretofore employed by them, and which will comprise but a few partsthat can be produced and applied at a 20 trifling expense.

A further object is to provide means whereby a bracket engaged leadscrew axially disposed as a pivotal shaft within the springless end of ashade roller is provided with right and left threaded nuts having wingsengaging longitudinal slots provided within the opposite sides of thesaid roller, and which, when the roller is revolved during an upwardmovement of the shade, are forced against an intermediate spring cushionso as to absorb the shock at contact and thus stop the rotation of theroller.

A further object is to provide means whereby the opposing force againstthe upward movement of the shade roller may be applied gradually againstthe rotating movement of the roller so as to avoid end thrust of thepivotal shaft against any part thereof, thus avoiding the inconvenienceof thrust hearings or Washers. This as the advantage of permitting adepth of bore suiiiciently beyond the length of the screw to permitshortening for adjustment to windows of various widths, preferablysufficient to cover the difference between contiguous standard widths.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth shown inthe drawing described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe procise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention. i

In the drawing:

Figure l is a lon itudinal sectional view through the roller. V

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the springless end of the roller,showing position of the slots and bore in the roller.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4- is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is aperspective View of the shade roller. I I

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a' conventional formof shade roller, one end of which is provided with a rotatable pintle 2of the conventional form, which is received and held against rotation ina bracket 3 of usual construction. Disposed within the roller 1 is acoiled spring at, of conventional construction, for imparting rotationto the roller for winding the shade on. the roller; this particulartypefif the operator loses control of the shade the roller rapidlyrotates,

winding. the shade around the same and unwinding-the roller; and damagesthe shade, and to obviate this difficulty the limiting meanshereinafterset forth is provided.

The shade rollerlimi'tingdevice comprises a shaft 5 which is heldagainst rotation by means ofthe bracket 6, in the notch 7 of which theflattened portion 8 of the shaft is received. Shaft 5 extends axiallyinto the bore 9 in the end of the; roller and is provided with a righthand threaded portion 10' and a left hand threadedportion 11. Threadedon the portions "10 an llf are slidable cylindrical In shades androllers of members 12 which slide within the bore 9 axially towards andaway from each other according to the direction of rotation of theroller. Opposite sides of cylindrical members 12 are provided withoutwardly extending. lugs 13 which are slidably mounted in thelongitudinal slots 14 of the roller end at opposite sides of the bore 9,therefore it will be seen that when the shade 15 is unwound, the members12 will be moved away from each other, and when the shade 15 is wound onthe shade roller, incident to the rotation of the roller by the coiledspring 4, the cylindrical members 12 will be fed towards each other.

If, during the raising of the shade 15, the operator loses control ofthe same, the rotation of the roller 1 will cause the slidable members12 to rotate on their respective threaded portions 10 of the shaft 5,and as the threads are reversed the members 12 will be forced towardseach other and into engagement with opposite ends of the coiled spring16, thereby compressing the spring 15 so there will be a yieldingstopping of rotation of the roller, thereby absorbing the shock. Coiledspring 16 is slidably mounted on the shaft 5, therefore it will moveaxially so that it will only be compressed when both ends thereof areengaged by the members 12 and is self adjusting in this respect, and itwill only be necessary for the operator to adjust the slidable members12 to proper positions when hanging the shade.

The outer end of the roller 1 is provided with a channelled ferrule 17,in the channel 18 of which the semi circular ends 19 of the. roller are'received and held against inward movement towards each other whichwould bind the slidable members 12 or against spreading movement whichwould interfere with the positive operation of the device. It will benoted that the bore 9 extends beyond the inner end of the threaded shaft5, thereby allowing a wide range of adjustability so that the roller canbe applied to windows of varying widths and to brackets 3 and 6 whichmay vary as to distance from each other.

From the above it will be seen that a shade roller stop is providedwhich is simple in construction, the parts reduced to a minimum and onewhich may be easily and quickly ad justed and applied to rollers now inuse Without materially varying the construction thereof.

The invention having been set forth what claimed as new and useful is:

A spring actuated shade roller having a bore at one end and longitudinalslots opening into the bore, means for limiting the retation of saidroller in its winding direction, said means comprising a stationaryshaft extendng axially into the bore in the roller in which thestationary shaft is disposed, said shaft having right and left threadedportions,

BEVILL \VHITWORTH.

